70: Evolutionary paths of the two source beasts

The stone-textured book resting alone on the mahogany offering table slowly began to glow with colorful light.

The colorful light slowly condensed into threads in the air, which then fell onto the three types of Source Beasts, seemingly examining something.

Inside the space, Chu Mu comfortably reclined in a rocking chair, his left hand swaying as he brushed over the deep green grass where the beasts rested, while his right hand opened the Nameless Book to check the evolution paths of the three Source Beasts.

"Species: Medicine Crystal Rabbit. Rank: Lower Mortal Rank. Aptitude: Normal. Status: Healthy, Fearful. Attribute Tendencies: Medicine, Rock. Skills: 1. Medicine Crystal: The Medicine Crystal Rabbit can condense crystals containing medicinal properties at regular intervals. These crystals can treat many common illnesses (colds, fever, inflammation, coughs, etc.). 2. Shatter Crystal: The Medicine Crystal Rabbit temporarily coats its body surface with a layer of colored crystals to defend against potential attacks. Evolution Paths: 1. Medicine Crystal Rabbit → Fragrant Powder-Ear Rabbit (Cost: 33 Source Spirit.) 2. Medicine Crystal Rabbit → Flying Fur Rabbit (Cost: 15 Source Spirit.) 3. Medicine Crystal Rabbit → Moon Worship Rabbit (Cost: 50 Source Spirit.)"

Chu Mu was quite surprised that the Medicine Crystal Rabbit actually had three evolution paths. However, its pre-evolution skills were indeed very ordinary, and the Medicine Crystals it produced could mostly only treat the illnesses of common people.

The defensive capability of the Shatter Crystal skill was likely not very effective either. It probably wasn't a very popular Source Beast among Contract Masters.

"Species: Green Leaf Insect. Rank: Lower Uncommon Rank. Aptitude: One in a Hundred. Status: Healthy, Fearless, Curious. Attribute Tendencies: Medicine, Wood. Skills: 1. Emerald Green Leaf: The Green Leaf Insect consumes the medicinal power condensed within its body to form a Green Leaf Mark. Targets carrying this mark receive continuous treatment for their injuries. 2. Worm Territory: The Green Leaf Insect designates an area as its territory. Within this territory, Wood-attributed plants gain a slight bonus to their growth speed. Evolution Paths: 1. Green Leaf Insect → Giant Green Leaf Insect (Cost: 20 Source Spirit.) 2. Green Leaf Insect → Multi-Eyed Poison Worm (Cost: 30 Source Spirit.) 3. Green Leaf Insect → Leaf Wing Worm (Cost: 25 Source Spirit.)"

There were three evolution paths again, but judging from the skill panel, the Green Leaf Insect seemed slightly superior to the Medicine Crystal Rabbit.

Not only was it generally bolder, but it also possessed certain auxiliary capabilities during a Contract Master's battle and could contribute to the production of Family resources.

However, looking purely at evolution, it seemed unable to compare to the Medicine Crystal Rabbit, which had the Moon Worship Rabbit evolution path costing 55 Source Spirit.

The evolution paths for the last Source Beast, the Phosphorescent Butterfly, remained the previous two: the Flower Medicine Butterfly and the Light Healing Butterfly.

Checking his Source Spirit balance, Chu Mu hardened his heart and immediately spent 185 Source Spirit to view all the evolution paths.

After the three people in the ancestral hall waited for a moment, the colored threads retracted from the three Source Beasts and recombined into individual characters, floating in mid-air.

Seeing this, Chu Qinhui quickly took out paper and pen from his jade pendant and meticulously copied the information.

Chu Mu did not separate the medicinal materials for the different evolution paths. He wanted to evolve a few of each type of Source Beast because even if some of their skills seemed unremarkable,

they might produce unexpected effects at a certain moment.

While Chu Qinhui was copying, Chu Jingyu sequentially scanned the medicinal materials and found that a portion of them were present in the Family's newly built warehouse and medicine field.

He then made a mental note: any spiritual materials that appeared today, if they could be planted, seeds must be purchased to expand the Family's medicine field.

After the copying was complete, the stone-textured book reverted to the appearance of an ordinary stone carving.

Chu Jingyu turned to Chu Qinhui and instructed, "Tomorrow, you will go to the Medicine Heart Hall to purchase the spiritual materials. If the Medicine Heart Hall doesn't have them, go to the Treasure Pavilion. Try to buy everything in one trip."

Chu Qinhui nodded.

Chu Jingyu then turned his gaze to Chu Shengfan and asked gently, "Xiao Fan, have there been any noteworthy events in town recently?"

"There are indeed two matters worth noting."

Chu Shengfan focused his eyes and slowly said, "The first is that following the death of the Chenliu Village chief and its renaming to Chen Family Village, the chiefs of Xujia Village and Moliu Village have also successively died, and the Zhang and Shi Families have officially moved in and taken over."

Chu Jingyu nodded slightly. "It seems the Town Lord does not mind the liquidation of the Liu Family remnants. He may even be intentionally promoting it."

"There is another matter. Several Source Beasts skilled in concealment seem to have broken into Qingyuan Village, causing heavy casualties among the common villagers. Although the guard team is trying their best to track them down,

progress is slow. Those Source Beasts may have already spread to other villages, so Grandfather, Father, you must pay attention to your safety recently."

"That is indeed a potential risk. I will stay home and guard the Family recently. Tomorrow, your father is going to town to purchase medicinal materials, so you should accompany him. If you truly run into trouble, you can look out for each other."

"There is one more thing. The Family is not short on funds right now, Grandfather. The next time the Treasure Pavilion is held, it will be time for you to purchase an Uncommon Rank Source Beast to contract."

A Mortal Rank Contract Master is equivalent to a newborn among Contractors; their Mental Energy is relatively fragile, and they can only form a contract with a Mortal Rank Source Beast, and only one at a time.

But upon reaching the Uncommon Rank, their Mental Energy is trained and strengthens. At this time, they can sign a contract with a new Source Beast, but the Realm is still limited to Uncommon Rank and Mortal Rank; otherwise, a Source Beast of a higher tier would burst the Contract Master's Sea of Consciousness.

Chu Jingyu was silent for a moment. "I will consider this matter. You two go and rest first."

Chu Qinhui and Chu Shengfan acknowledged him and withdrew from the ancestral hall.

The suddenly empty ancestral hall fell silent. Chu Jingyu stood alone before the dim lamplight, his reflected shadow appearing somewhat desolate.

Chu Jingyu walked to the doorway. The cold, lonely moonlight poured down, illuminating the roof covered in a thin layer of snow, making the night even colder.

At this moment, Chu Jingyu leaned against the doorframe and slowly sat down, then took out a wooden plaque from his jade pendant, which read:

"Luo Qingyi, May 7th, 3345 -- November 12th, 3370."

Chu Jingyu's fingers gently rubbed the plaque, seemingly wanting to touch the person in his memory through it.

"Qingyi, I don't hate you anymore. Although you could harm your own biological son for the sake of the Luo Family, after all these years, I have established a new Family, and the poison in our son's body will slowly heal.

I want to take you and watch closely as the Chu Family and the Luo Family slowly decline at the hands of the Chu Family.

... That day will come."

After speaking to the plaque in his hand for a while, Chu Jingyu seemed to remember something and placed the plaque on a slightly lower table nearby.

He then took three sticks of incense from the altar table and slowly lit them before the plaque.

Immediately afterward, Chu Jingyu walked to the central offering table, respectfully knelt before the stone-textured book on the table, and his voice was more devout than ever before.

"May Ancestor Chu bless the Chu Family for ten thousand generations..."